MLB Would Be Foolish to Not Return Because of Money, Says Passan

Whatever avenue or angle we seem to be looking at these days, it seems that — inevitably (and mercifully) — baseball will return soon. Perhaps soonish is a better word here. In fact, the road appears paved healthwise, and any stay at home restrictions could soon be lifted around the country.

So what’s standing in the way?

Money.

Owners and players appear to be digging in their heels over a previous agreement that had players set to make a prorated percentage of their salaries in 2020. However, the fine print had language that protected the club owners in the event that the season is played without fans in the stands.

Now, if you ask ESPN’s Jeff Passan, he says baseball would be foolish to not return over money. The journalist caught up with sports personality Rich Eisen about this topic.

The money quote…

If you’re gonna lose a baseball season because you can’t figure out how to split up a few billion dollars… you deserve everything that is coming your way.

And it’s 100% accurate.

After nearly three decades of labor disputes and work stoppages in the game throughout the 70s into the 90s, club owners have had a perfectly imperfect relationship with the players union since play resumed for the 1995 season. The 1994 season saw a major work stoppage that ultimately cost the league a World Series for the first time since its inception.

While the current collective bargaining agreement is set to expire after the 2021 season, tensions were already high over a myriad of issues in said agreement. Now, if all parties can’t find a semi-unhappy medium soon, MLB could head down a path it may never recover from.

But, like Passan said, “who’s going to be the adult in the room?” One side will take a hit, but it’s a small price to pay for an industry that made a record $10.7B in 2019.

Assuredly, not all players are millionaires, but when you look at it from the outside, billionaires arguing with millionaires is an absolutely ridiculous concept standing in the way of something positive for fans and the nation… And absolutely not the way the game should crumble.

Clint is the lead editor of Dodgers Nation, and a host and analyst on Dodgers Nation's own Blue Heaven podcast live stream.

He's been writing, blogging, and podcasting Dodgers since about 2008. He was there for Nomar, Greg Maddux, and Blake DeWitt, and he'll be there for Walker Buehler, Alex Verdugo, Dustin May, and any Dodgers of the future.

He's also a sandwich enthusiast, a consummate athlete, and a friend.

Comments

Who cares if we don’t have a joke of a season? After last year I certainly don’t. My team turned out to be a bunch of unrepentant cheaters who only stopped because they thought it wasn’t doing them any good. They deserve all the old-school retaliation coming their way. Maybe we can have a real season next year.

They were unrepentant because they knew they were on a level playing field. There were reports of 9-15 teams doing similar stuff. The other teams just weren’t investigated thoroughly. Manfred didn’t want to go there for obvious reasons. Baseball has a long history of cheating. You still have to play the game. A half season this year would be a joke. Better to wait until next year at this point.

Why do you always comment here? It’s weird lmao. We get it, you’re an Astros fan who doesn’t like what your team did but you also like to tell dodger fans to stop having a legitimate gripe about it. Now go back to where you came. As for you RC, we get it, you like to go on these specific articles or comments and tell everyone your knowledge about what other teams did. If you’re really a dodger fan how about commenting about something else for once or just be quiet if you can’t

It will be a joke of a season for sure!!!!
These guys make a lot of money and the have become so ridiculous on their demands.
What happened to the love for the game?
They only care about the money and forget about us the fans.
So disappointing!!!!

you’re right Vic, the owners are a holes. So let’s not forget that those players fans and media have for decades focused their rage on are the key to the game. Without players, there is no game. Owners will find something else to own for sure. But the vast majority of these players would be selling insurance or working in a grocery store if MLB did not exist. They are not legacy wealth. And we should support them because they, like all of us working folks, have a job to do. And none of us should except less for performing at the same level on the job as we did before the pandemic. In fact the risk is high for players well more than it will ever be for owners and admin. Time to end the “shut up and play” mentality.

Everything in your comment is spot on except the part about there not being a lot of legacy wealth. Lots of players are in fact secret offspring of former players you can see it in their looks, but they are given different last names. Just one example on our team is Chris Taylor, the child of Mike Marshall

Good point Don, but those offspring are the exception and not the rule. The “vast majority” are not kids of elite, high paid players. But for sure it is worth noting that mlb players from all over the world invest large sums of money in their communities. True of Professional Athletes in general. This goes missing when money disputes hit the fan.

Please don’t put players and working folks in the same sentence; it’s an obscene statement. Many of them will retire from playing a game in their 30s with enough wealth to last their lifetimes. Even the lowest paid will have significant cash and plenty of time to start their second careers.

I don’t think you get my point Bum. Money aside, we folks with a job to do will be pressured to make the same kinds of concessions. We are not owners anymore or less than players. So no it is not obscene. It’s just reality when you have a skill for sale but you don’t own the factory.